Pipe-flanging machine.



F. M, PATTERSON. PIPE FLANVGING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED N015, 1911.

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ancam toz 9Z4. @MLISM UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

FRANKLIN M. PATTERSON, or EAYoN E, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR rd PATTERSON-ALLE ENGINEERING coMrANY, A oonP'onArIoN or NEW YORK.

PIPE-FLANGING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters latent Patented D131. 4, 1915 Application filedNovember 8, 1911., Serial No. 659,097.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLrN M. PA'r- TEnsoN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Bayonne, county of Hudson, State of NewJersey, have invented an Improvement in Pipe-Flanging Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention has reference to improvements in pipe flanging machines andconsists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in thefollowing specification,

and shown in the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a suitable machine forexpanding a pipe end within the pipe flangefor forming a union betweensaid parts and preferably by expanding arib on the pipe into an internalgroove on the flange, and moreover without subjecting the flange or thepipe to longitudinal thrust during the operation.

My invention is more particularly intended for large pipe diameters, butis not restricted in this respect.

My invention consists of a suitable housing for supporting andholdingthe pipe flange and receiving the pipe end, combined with anexpanding die divided into a plurality of sections adapted to operateupon the interior of the pipe in a radial direction toward the flange, aplurality of hydraulic cylinders, plungers, the latter respectlvelyoperating upon the sections of the die, and controlling means foroperating the hydraulic cylinders and plungers whereby the die may besimultaneously expanded throughout its circumference; the pipe -flangesupporting housing on the one part and the dies on the other being.preferably formed with capacity for relative adjustmentcircumferentially, to permlt the posit-ion of the die sections tobe'shifted relatively with respect to the interlor of the 1 e. p lilyinvention also comprehends details of construction which, togetherwith'the features above specified, will be better understood byreference to the drawlngs, in which l Figure 1 is a side elevatlon of aplpe flangmg machine embodying my improvements with part in section;Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, also having part in section;and Fig. 3 is an elevation of the exradial flanges 7 which are receivedin the circumferential groove formed by the recess 3 and the plate 4. Inthis manner, the die sections are held in proper relative relation, andare positively positioned in-the housing, but without restraint toproper normal movement both radially and circumferentially. A springband 21 placed about the several sections of the die, normally tend tobring these sections together to the position indicated in Fig. 3, atwhich time, the die has its smallest diameter. The opposite facing 5 ofthe housing acts as a support for the pipe flange 23 which may beclamped in position by the clamps 26. The pipe 24 is placed within theflange and between it and the die sections 6, as will be clearlyunderstood by reference to Fig. 1. It is'ordi'narily customary-toprovide a groove upon the inner surface of the flange 23 into which thepipe is expanded by the rib 22 on'the' cident with the center of theaperture through the housing and the normal center of the die sections.Secured to the end of this tubular shaft 13 is a head 12 having aplurality of hydraulic cylinders 11 arranged radially about said headand having their inner ends in communication with each other and withthe passage 14 extending through the tubular shaft 13. Each of thehydraulic cylinders 11 is provided with a plunger 10, the outer end ofwhich is provided with a platen 8 which directly acts upon one of thesections 6 of the die; To prevent shifting of the die sections upon theplaten, the two may be provided with a tongue and groove connection 9of'any suitable construction. This. will prevent cirlic machines.

cumferential displacement of the die sections relatively to theirplatens, whereas, the flange 7, working in the groove in the housing,will prevent longitudinal displacementof the die sections. Furthermore,the tongue and groove connection 9, as well as the polygonal outer shapeof the platens, will enable the dies to be circumferentially shiftedafter each expanding operation by rocking the shaft 13 and the head 12,which movement may be accomplished by means. of the handle 20. It willbe understood, that when the pipe is expanded into the flange by oneradial movement of the hydraulic plungers, there will be small spacesbetween the expanding sections of the die which will not be fullyexpanded, and therefore upon retracting the plungers, the head 12,together with the plungers and the die sec tions, is shiftedcircumferentially to a slight extent, preferably through an arc equal toone-half the circumferential length of thesections 6, and then theexpanding operation repeated to complete the union between the pipe andthe flange.

18 is a control valve for supplying water, under pressure from the pipe17 through the pipe 15 and the stufling box 16 into the tubular passage14 of the shaft 13, and also for permitting the escape of the water fromthe cylinders through exhaust pipe 19 when the dies are to becontracted. This control valve 18 may be of any suitable ehanicter,there being many well known forms of control valves used in connectionwith hydrau I prefer, however, the well known construction which isillustrated in the Patent No. 956,253, dated April 26, 1910, though I donot restrict myself thereto. Any other manner of supplying andcontrolling the pressure to the hydraulic cylinders may be employed. Inthe manner shown, the pressure simultaneously acts upon all of theplungers, and consequently,

the expanding pressure on the inside of the pipe is uniform throughoutits circumference.

I have shown my invention in the form which I prefer, but it is to beunderstood that the details may be modified or varied without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. For example, it is quite evident thatwhile I have shown the expanding die in six sections, the number ofsections may be varied according to the diameter of the pipe; also,whereas the relative circumferential movement between the housing, withits flange and the dies, is preferably accomplished by shifting the dieswithin the stationary flange and the housing, said relative movement maybe accomplished in any other suitable manner,and likewise, thecooperative relation of the various parts may be changed or modified tosuit any particu lar conditions which may arise, Without beingconsidered a departure'from the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1-. In a pipe flanging machine, the combination of a housing forsupporting and guiding the pipe flange, an expanding die arranged withinthe housing for expanding the pipe end in the flange and formed of aplurality of circumferentially arranged sections, a plurality ofhydraulic cylinders arranged centrally within the die, a plurality ofplungers for said cylinders, each plunger operating upon one section ofthe die for moving it radially, and means for controlling pressure fluidsimultaneously to the plurality of cylinders.

2. Ina pipe flanging machine, the combination of a housing forsupporting and guiding the pipe flange, an expanding die arranged withinthe housing for expanding the pipe end in the flange and formed of aplurality of circumferentially arranged sections, continuously actingmeans for moving the sections of the die radially inward, a plurality ofhydraulic cylinders arranged centrally within the die, a plurality ofplungers for said cylinders, each plunger operating upon one section ofthe die for moving it radially and normally moved inward in its cylinderby the action of the die segments, and means for controlling the supplyof pressure fluid simultaneously to the plurality of cylinders.

33. In a pipe flanging machine, the combination of a main frame, ahousing on the main frame for supporting and guiding the pipe flange, anexpanding die arranged within the housing for expanding the pipe end inthe flange and formed of a plurality of circumferentially arrangedsections, a plurality of hydraulic cylinders arranged centrally withinthe die and supported by the, main frame, a plurality of plungers forsaid cylinders, each plunger operating upon one section of the die formoving it radially, means for imparting a relatively circumferentialmovement between the housing and the die, and means for controlling thesupply of pressure fluid simultaneously to the plurality of cylinderswhile permitting the relative circumferential movement thereof.

4. Ina pipe flangingmachine, the combination of a main frame, a housingon the main frame for supporting and guiding the pipe flange, anexpanding die arranged within the housing for expanding the pipe end inthe flange and formed of a plurality of circumferentially arrangedsections, a plurality of hydraulic cylinders arranged centrally withinthe die and su parted by the main frame, a plurality of p ungers forsaid cylinders, each, plunger operating upon one section of the die formoving it radially,

5 ling the by the main frame, an annular die divided .,,jnders for allpositions of adjustment thereof.

means for producing a circumferential rockin of the cylinders and theirplungers for adjusting the die circumferentially within the housing, andmeans for controlsupply of pressure fluid simultaneously to theplurality of cylinders while permitting the relative circumferentialadjustment thereof.

5. In a pipe flanging machine, the combination of a mainframe, a housingcarried into sections and supported by-the housing with provision forradialmovement but held against longitudinal movement, a rotatable.

shaft journaled on the main frame, a cylin der head secured to the shaftand provided with a plurality of radially arranged cylinders, aplurality of plungers for the cylin-.

ders and each connecting with one of the sections of the die, and meansfor adjusting the head together with its lungers and .die sectionseircumferentially a ut the axis of the shaft, and means to supplypressure fluid simultaneously to the plurality of cylcircumferential 6.In a pipe flanging machine, the combination of a housing, an annular diedivided into sections and sup orted by the housing with provision for raial movement but held against longitudinal movement, a rotatable shaft,a main frame for positively holding the shaft indefinite relation to thehousing, a cylinder head secured to the shaft and provided with aplurality of radially arranged cylinders, a pluralityof plungers for thecylinders and each connecting with one of the sections of the die, andmeans for adjusting the head together with its plungers and die sectionscircumferentially about the axis of the shaft, means to supply pressurefluid simultaneously to the plurality of cylinders and' alsoforexhausting the fluid therefrom for all positions of a justment, andmeans for moving the sections of the die toward each other and forcingthe plungers into the cylinders.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto setmy hand.

FRANKEIN M. PATTERSON. Witnesses:

JOHN H. AMEs, W n. F. MADILL.

